Vigilant Guard Exercise Underway

THIS IS AN EXERCISE!!!

The Vigilant Guard exercise that simulates a significant earthquake in Erie County and Western New York got underway early Monday morning, November 2, 2009.

Our entire Emergency Services team is involved in coordinating and participating in this week-long scenario that involves National Guard troops from across the northeast and first responders from around the world.

An Emergency Operations Center has been established at the Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center in Cheektowaga NY with more than 100 emergency management personnel converging to handle the made-up disaster. A "Sim-Cell" constantly injects realistic problems into the scenario, allowing the role players to exercise their skills and come up with creative solutions to the challenges they're presented.

The exercise includes training venues in Erie and Niagara Counties including the cities of Buffalo, Lockport and Tonawanda.

A simulated rubble pile was engineered and created in less than three weeks at the Spaulding Fiber site on Wheeler Street in Tonawanda. The pile includes huge chunks of concrete as well as other debris including crushed cars and medical equipment. Rescuers burrow threw the debris looking for simulated victims, some digging in as far as 35 ft. from the outside perimeter of the pile. A separate smaller pile allows rescuers to locate and retrieve live victims.

More than 400 responders and guardsmen worked the rubble pile on Tuesday. Firefighters and USAR (Urban Search & Rescue) Specialists from across New York State, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Alaska, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Massachusetts are heavily engaged, receiving experience and training that is unparalleled. International partners have come from Canada, Denmark and the UK for the week - sharing their experiences and taking home an invaluable exchange of information.

The scene is rich with the brotherhood of the fire service and the emergency services community with first responders from all disciplines and locales enjoying creating new friendships and revisiting old ones.

We've uploaded Monday's photos from the pile to our Flickr.com account at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40216465@N03/collections/72157622601194813/

And, our ESU Facebook page has been updated as well:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erie-County-Emergency-Services/109499386703

Stay tuned here and to these pages for frequent updates from the field and the EOC.

VIGILANT GUARD EXERCISE IN THE NEWS:

National Guard Vigilant Guard Site and Journal

http://dmna.state.ny.us/blog/journal.php?journal=1254502561

Tonawanda News

http://www.tonawanda-news.com/thetonawandas/local_story_307000347.html

WIVB-TV Channel 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVPHdeIlowM

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Simulated_earthquake_hits_region_20091102

WNY ShutterBug

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wnyshutterbug/4067494302/

THIS IS AN EXERCISE!!!

URGENT: New Fall Training Courses Announced

URGENT: New Fall Training Courses Announced

The Fall Training Schedule has been uploaded to www.erie.gov/fire with eight (8) new courses added.These course represent the balance of the remaining state fire instructor hours allocated to Erie County unt...il March 31, 2010. We have course requests on file that represent more than 1,500 state fire instructor hours that will go unfulfilled unless we receive more training hours from NYS OFPC. If you do not feel that this situation satisfies the training needs of your fire department and our fire service at large, we encourage you to contact your state representatives.

To maximize the efficiency of all remaining instructor hours, all courses are at risk of not running as scheduled unless the maximum number of allowable students are registered for the respective course.

Please note the following about these courses:

1R09002 Scene Support Operations: STARTS NEXT MONDAY 9/21 at the Training & Operations Center. This course will not run as scheduled unless full with at least 20 students. This course will run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 weeks.

1S09008 Firefighter 1: Will run double-sessions on Saturdays at the Training & Operations Center. As this may be the last Firefighter 1 course we run until next spring and in fairness to all fire departments, registration will be limited to 2-3 students per fire department depending on the number of applications received. Chief officers are encouraged to prioritize the applications they submit by placing a circled number in the lower right hand corner of the application, with 1 being the highest priority.Please download, print and share the attached Firefighter 1 Student Packet with all interested recruits and chief officers.

1T09002 Firefighter 2: As this may be the last Firefighter 2 course we run until next spring and in fairness to all fire departments, registration will be limited to 2-3 students per fire department depending on the number of applications received. Chief officers are encouraged to prioritize the applications they submit by placing a circled number in the lower right hand corner of the application, with 1 being the highest priority.

1Y09002 Apparatus Operator-EVOC: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Alden- 10/6, 8, 13, 15, SAT-10/17 2X (double-session)

7809003 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Is expected to run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Alden following the EVOC course#1Y09002. Exact dates to be determined. Registrations will be accepted now. Preference will be given to those registering for the EVOC course at the same time.

1Y09003 Apparatus Operator-EVOC: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Orchard Park - 10/6, 8, 13, SAT-10/17 3X (triple-session)

7809004 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Orchard Park following the EVOC course#1Y09003 - 10/20, 22, SAT-24 (2X), 27, 29, SAT-31 (2X). Registrations will be accepted now. Preference will be given to those registering for the EVOC course at the same time.

7809002 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at Mortons Corners. Please not the following details about the EVOC and Pump courses:

NYS OFPC Course Descriptions & Details: Apparatus Operator Courses

1Y - Apparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004)Provides vehicle operators with a better understanding of the seriousness of emergency vehicle operation. Based on objectives from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Chapter 2, this course stimulates the thought processes to make students aware of the potential for tragedy and financial loss and of the legal and moral responsibilities encountered when operating an emergency vehicle.

Note: Apparatus Operator Emergency Vehicle Operations equivalents are EVOC Courses offeredby VFIS Insurance, ESIP Insurance, or Utica National Insurance. Train the Trainers are not accepted as equivalent.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 18 hours
Prerequisite: Scene Support Operations and a valid driver's license

78 - Apparatus Operator – Pump (01-05-0005) Offers knowledge and skills essential to pump operation. Based on objectives from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Chapter 3, this course includes responsibilities of pump operators, hydraulics and friction loss, pump controls and accessories, fire streams, pumper practices, pumping from draft and pump evolutions, and using the fire pump at the fire hydrant. Demonstrations and practice sessions are included.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 24 hours
Prerequisites: Apparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004) and Scene Support Operations or equivalent
NYS Certification Level: Firefighter Recruit I, Fire Instructor I
National Certification Level: Fire Service Instructor I
College Credit: Yes

38 - Water Supply Operations (01-05-0047) Offers firefighters with information and skills in determining water supply requirements for firefighting purposes and water delivery methods. Demonstrations and practice sessions are included.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 18 hours
Prerequisites: Apparatus Operator - Pump (01-05-0005) and Scene Support Operations or equivalent

79 - Apparatus Operator - Aerial Device (01-05-0003) Designed to follow the NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, provides the student with knowledge necessary to operate, inspect and maintain aerial devices. Course content includes emergency vehicle operations review, classification and typing, vehicle inspection, operation of various types of aerial devices including platforms and ladders, proper location of placement and setup at an incident including driving, spotting and stabilizing. Fire departments must possess an aerial device to offer this program enabling students to fully operate this device.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 24 hours
Prerequisites: Truck Company Operations (01-05-0046) or Ladder Company Operations (01-05-0029) andApparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004) or equivalent

Source: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html - As of: 09/14/09

Check http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html for all other pre-requisites and other information regarding this training.

Firefighter 1 Boot Camp - July 6-17, 2009 - IS FULL

Registration for the Firefighter 1 Boot Camp course from July 6-17, 2009 (8am-4pm) at the Training & Operations Center is FULL and closed. We received more than 50 applications but unfortunately cannot accommodate everyone. Thank you to everyone who responded and demonstrated an interest in participating.

• A reminder to those students who are indicated as confirmed on the roster for Course#1S09004 which can be viewed at: http://www.erie.gov/depts/community/emergency_fsd_resources.asp#urgent_alerts
  Confirmed students must attend the mandatory orientation along with a chief or training officer on Monday-June 15th at 7pm at the Training & Operations Center.
• A $50 student fee is required, due at the mandatory orientation. This covers beverages, fruit, Boot Camp and Graduation T-shirts and other supplies. This may be paid by check or cash. Please make checks payable to James McCullough.
• Please share and review the attached Student Packet with your chief and address all points outlined as appropriate.

New Web Page Focuses on Challenges of the Volunteer Fire Service

New USFA Web Page Focuses on Challenges of the Rural and Volunteer Fire Service

There are fundamental differences in the nature of the rural fire problem compared to the U.S. fire problem as a whole. Additionally, the volunteer rural fire service has unique challenges not faced by their counterparts, such as large minimally populated areas to provide protection and service, often no guarantee of staffing levels, water supply challenges, lack of population to provide a revenue or tax base to support service, etc.

What are the major the challenges you as a rural volunteer fire department are facing?

• Funding?
• Retention of your current volunteer firefighters and support staff?
• Recruitment of new members for both active firefighting and support?
• Training?
• Fire prevention and public education?

And have you developed any innovative ways on how you have overcome them?

To support you, USFA has developed a dedicated web page on Rural and Volunteer Fire Department Resources: www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/rural/index.shtm

This page focuses on the numerous resources developed to deal with the unique fire challenges faced by fire departments operating in rural communities. It provides statistics and fire reports dealing with rural fires; public fire education and prevention programs targeted at the rural fire problem and community; critical firefighter health and safety issues impacting rural and volunteer firefighters; and National Fire Academy training opportunities focusing on the rural and volunteer fire service that include a wildland firefighting skills crosswalk for structural firefighters.

In addition, USFA is currently working with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) on a revision to the Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services that will provide the most up to date information in this area. Look for this document in the near future.

Other resources include the NVFC, http://www.nvfc.org/, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS), www.vcos.org/.

FEEDBACK: Training Needs

URGENT: Feedback Needed - 2009-2010 Training Needs

We are asking all Erie County Fire Departments to submit their 2009 Training Course Requests by February 9, 2009 so that we can begin the process of scheduling courses to start after April 1, 2009.

Thanks to your commitment to training, we delivered and exceeded the 2,400 State training hours alloted to us in FY-2008-2009.

Although we have not yet received our training allotment from the NY State Office of Fire Prevention & Control for their 2009-2010 fiscal year, we hope to receive at least as many hours as we did in 2008-2009. As in past years, we requested more than 5,000 training hours from the State. The more course requests we receive now - the more additional hours we can request be assigned to our county throughout the year as necessary. The State's fiscal year runs from April 1-March 31.

Please remember that Courses 05-Fire Police; 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC and 505-Fire Radio Communications are typically available year round as they are also taught by County Instructors. While our State training hours were cut by 500 last year, our County training budget was increased by approximately 400 hours and should remain constant this year.

The standard training course request form can be downloaded from http://www.blogger.com/www.erie.gov/fire. It must be completed and submitted by an authorized chief or training officer.

A complete listing of available State courses can be found at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html. Please note that outreach courses available for field delivery are indicated by an "O" designation next to their description.

Please also note that certain courses have pre-requisites. Specifically, 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC is the pre-requisite for 78-Apparatus Operator-Pump and 79-Apparatus Operator-Aerial Devices.

FIREFIGHTER 1:
In addition to these course requests, we need to know how many new recruits your fire department has who need Firefighter 1 training. We will prioritize class locations and allocation accordingly. Please reply to the Fire Safety Office ASAP via e-mail with this information and your contact information for follow-up.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation in this important matter. As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any questions or require further information.

2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week Theme Announced

IAFC MEMBER ALERT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: IAFC Communications Department703–293–0911 • http://www.iafc.org/

2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week Theme Announced:Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility

Fairfax, Va., Feb. 3, 2009... The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) are pleased to announce the theme Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility for the 2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week, scheduled for June 14-20.

We encourage all fire/EMS departments to devote this week to reviewing safety policies, evaluating the progress of existing initiatives and discussing health and fitness. Fire/EMS departments should make a concerted effort during the week to correct safety deficiencies and to provide training as needed. An entire week is provided to ensure that each shift and volunteer duty crew can spend one day focusing on fire fighter safety, health and survival.

Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility encourages chiefs and fire/EMS personnel to focus on what they personally can do to manage risk and enhance their health and safety. This year’s theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and accountability within a strong safety culture.

“Fire fighter safety is a full-time job for all of us, all of the time. We can’t rely on someone else to do it for us. It takes personal commitment,” said IAFC President Chief Larry Grorud, CFO, MIFireE.

“The Safety, Health and Survival Week is an opportunity for IAFF members and their fire chiefs to take defensive action against dangers that can be controlled or prevented and make a long-term commitment to staying safe and healthy,” said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.

Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, chair of the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival (SHS) Section said, “While some fire fighter injury and death cannot be avoided, so much of it can be, and it so often falls to each of us taking responsibility for ourselves and each other. A very critical factor in success is the role of fire officers and chiefs developing policy, providing training and enforcing the policy based on training to each and every member. The IAFC SHS Section proactively leads and supports any department, anywhere, in accomplishing these goals.”

Recommended activities and materials will incorporate four key areas where standard operating procedures, policies and initiatives—along with the training and enforcement that support them—can limit fire/EMS personnel’s risk of injury or death:

• Safety – Emergency Driving (Enough is Enough—End Senseless Death)
• Lower speeds—stop racing to the scene. Drive safely and arrive alive to help others.
• Utilize seat belts—never drive or ride without them.
• Stop at every intersection—look in all directions and then proceed in a safe manner.
• Health – Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education and Prevention
• Don't smoke or use tobacco products.
• Get active.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get regular health screenings.
• Survival – Structural Size-Up and Situational Awareness
• Keep apprised of different types of building materials and construction used in your community.
• Develop a comprehensive size-up checklist.
• Always complete a 360° walk of the structure to collect valuable, operational decision-making information.
• Learn the practice of reading smoke.
• Be familiar with the accepted rules of engagement.
• Learn your accountability system and use it.
• Master your tools and equipment.
• Remain calm and concentrate.
• Chiefs – Be the Leader in Safety
• Become personally engaged in safety and make it part of your strategic vision for the department.
• Be willing to make the tough decisions regarding safety policies and practices and their implementation.
• Hold members of the organization accountable for their safety and the safety of those with whom they work.
• Ensure that resources are available to accomplish activities safely and effectively.
  

Keep watching www.iafc.org/safetyweek for more information on this year’s program and planning resources developed by the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section.

NEW COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT: Medium Structural Collapse Concepts

Course# 4008001 Medium Structural Collapse Concepts at the Erie County Emergency Services Training and Operations Center on Mondays and Wednesdays, starting 1/26/09, running 1/28/09 and ending 2/2/09. Each class will start at 6:30pm.

Course #1W Basic Structural Collapse Operations is the pre-requisite.

All interested firefighters should submit a standard training course application to the Fire Safety Office ASAP.

NEW COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW COURSE OFFERINGS:

Course# 0508007 Fire Police at Doyle 1 on Saturday-January 17, 2009. Class will start at 8am.

Course# 1C08001 Incident Safety Officer at Sheridan Park starts NEXT MONDAY January 5, 2009. Class will start at 7pm. Openings are limited. Walk-ins are welcome.

Course# 1Y08011 Apparatus Operator-Emergency Vehicle Operations at Sheridan Park will start on Thursday-January 22, 2009 and will run on 1/22, 1/27, 1/29, 2/3, Saturday-2/7, and 2/10. Evening classes will start at 7pm. Saturday Class will start at 8am.

COURSE OPENINGS:
Course# 2R08001 Hazardous Materials Technician Operations at Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center Room 135 starting NEXT MONDAY 1/5/09 and ending on 2/10/09. Each class will start at 6:30pm. Course runs 1/5, 1/6, 1/12, 1/13, 1/26, 1/27, 2/2, 2/3, 2/9, and 2/10/2009.

Openings are still available. Walk-ins welcome. Course#31 Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations is a pre-requisite to attend this course.

Course# 1W08001 Basic Structural Collapse Operations at Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center on Wednesday-January 7, 2009 and Wednesday-January 14. Each class will start at 6:30pm.

Course# 8508001 Alternative Fuel Vehicles and New Technology at Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center on Thursday-January 8, 2009. Class will start at 6:30pm.

Course# 1X08001 Basic Trench Collapse Concepts at Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center on Monday-February 9, 2009 and Wednesday-February 11, 2009. Each class will start at 6:30pm.

Course# 7P08001 Water Rescue Awareness at Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center on Tuesday-February 10, 2009. Class will start at 6:30pm. This course is intended for all fire, EMS and law enforcement responders.

All interested firefighters should submit a standard training course application to the Fire Safety Office ASAP. The training schedule has been updated at http://www.blogger.com/www.erie.gov/fire.